DR Congo election: Results ‘may be delayed’ as ballots trickle in

Provisional results from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) long-delayed presidential election could be pushed back past Sunday’s deadline, the country’s electoral commission has said, as ballots trickle in and tensions prevail over the vote count.

As of Wednesday, three days after the election, counting centres had received just 17 percent of the tally sheets drawn up by individual polling stations, the president of the CENI electoral commission, Corneille Nangaa, said.

“We are working around the clock. We are doing our best to publish the results on January 6. But if we can’t, we can’t,” Nangaa told AFP news agency, without mentioning the reason for the delays.

Election monitors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the December 30 vote “went relatively well” despite chaotic scenes that prevented many from voting.

The crucial election is meant to lead to DRC’s first democratic transfer of power in 59 years of independence.

But more than a million Congolese in three opposition strongholds were unable to vote due to an Ebola outbreak, security concerns, local factional conflict and various logistical problems.

A spokesman for Felix Tshisekedi, one of the two opposition candidates, said he doesn’t mind when the results are published as long as they are an honest reflection of the vote.

”I doubt it will be Sunday, because some corners of the country have not transmitted their results, but I can’t speak for the commission,” Vital Kamerhe told reporters in the capital, Kinshasa.

“Whether it’s on Sunday or Monday, Tuesday, we don’t mind. What we want are results published that reflect the truth of the ballot boxes, that is the most important thing,” he added.The elections will determine the successor of President Joseph Kabila at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest country for nearly 18 years.

Kabila refused to step down after his two-term constitutional limit ended in 2016, sparking protests that were quelled at the cost of scores of lives.

The African Union (AU) issued a statement on Wednesday saying Sunday’s vote had taken place “in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, despite interference and all the security, political and organisational challenges.”

“The holding of these elections constitutes, in itself, a first great victory for the Congolese people,” the statement said. “The mission strongly wishes that the results that will be declared are true to the vote of the Congolese people.”

Broadcasts, internet curb
Meanwhile, the Congolese ruling party said the internet shutdown, which has been in place since Monday, will continue, to prevent disorder.

“The Common Front for the Congo (FCC) regrets the internet shutdown since Monday, but notes that some people tried to use the internet to pit the Congolese people against each other,” said Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, FCC spokesperson.

“We ask the population to remain calm and wait peacefully for the provisional results that the electoral commission will publish in the coming days,” he told reporters.